MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF OBTURATOR ARTERY

Background: The obturator artery normally arises from the anterior trunk of internal iliac artery. High frequency of variations in its origin and course has drawn attention of pelvic surgeons, anatomists and radiologists. Normally, artery inclines anteroinferiorly on the lateral pelvic wall to the upper part of obturator foramen. The obturator artery may origin individually or with the iliolumbar or the superior gluteal branch of the posterior division of the internal iliac artery. However, the literature contains many articles that report variable origins. Interesting variations in the origin and course of the principal arteries have long attracted the attention of anatomists and surgeons. Methods: 50 adult human pelvic halves were procured from embalmed cadavers of J.J.M. Medical College and S.S.I.M.S & R.C, Davangere, Karnataka, India for the study. Results: The obturator artery presents considerable variation in its origin. It took origin most frequently from the anterior division of internal iliac artery in 36 specimens (72%). Out of which, directly from anterior division in 20 specimens (40%), with ilio-lumbar artery in 5 specimens (10%), with inferior gluteal artery in 3 specimens (6%), with inferior vesical artery in 2 specimens (4%), with middle rectal artery in 1 specimen (2%), with internal pudendal artery in 4 specimens (8%) and with uterine artery in 1 specimen (2%). The obturator artery took origin from the posterior division of internal iliac artery in 9 specimens (18%), from external iliac artery in 1 specimen (2%), from inferior epigastric artery in 3 specimens (6%) and was found to be absent in 1 specimen (2%).